←back to thread

230 points mdp2021 | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.009s | source
Show context
avar ◴[] No.41868092[source]
This article doesn't even try to address what I feel is the deeper and more interesting question (but probably one that can't be answered): Why is it that horses, cows, giraffes and birds have all had to come up with a purely passive solution of "locking" themselves in place, either via their joints (for the four-legged), or via the tendon mechanism described here for birds?

I.e. why wasn't in simpler in evolutionary terms to come up with some mechanism where 1% of the brain was dedicated to the relatively simple task of "station keeping", while the rest of the brain could benefit from sleep?

replies(9): >>41868139 #>>41868150 #>>41868707 #>>41869047 #>>41869387 #>>41869517 #>>41870381 #>>41872718 #>>41879066 #
meindnoch ◴[] No.41868139[source]
Also, why didn't any animal evolve a way to avoid sleep completely?
replies(6): >>41868172 #>>41868174 #>>41868270 #>>41869630 #>>41870177 #>>41870407 #
interludead ◴[] No.41868270[source]
Sleep has crucial role in survival and well-being
replies(1): >>41868891 #
jajko ◴[] No.41868891[source]
Yeah but what role? 24h always at least a bit running brain has also crucial role in survival.

I get some form of maintenance is needed, but 8h every day seems like an overkill for very significant disadvantages. Many other mammals require significantly less sleep.

replies(3): >>41869105 #>>41870244 #>>41870665 #
1. aeyes ◴[] No.41870244[source]
Could it be that 8h is a "modern" sleep pattern? You can also take several shorter naps throughout the day (polyphasic sleep pattern).

But to be honest, without light there isn't much humans can do at night.

replies(1): >>41871189 #
2. hotspot_one ◴[] No.41871189[source]
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieva...

The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps'